Pressure-Assisted Fast Synthesis of Zeolitic Materials
Kai Zhang, Guangyuan He, Ning Wang, Zhuoya Dong, Yanhang Ma, Jun Xu, Donghai Mei, Qiming Sun, Jihong Yu
Abstract
Zeolites are widely utilized in various industrial applications, such as ion exchangers, catalysts, and adsorbents. However, traditional zeolite crystallization is time-intensive, requiring hours to weeks under autogenous pressure in autoclaves. In this study, we developed a novel and universal pressure-assisted method for the rapid synthesis of diverse zeolites, including MFI, CHA, FAU, MOR, *BEA, LTA, and AFI, as well as zeolite-encaged ultrasmall metal clusters and atoms, using batch reactors supercharged with controlled amounts of gases. Compared to traditional hydrothermal synthesis, this method significantly accelerates the crystallization rate of zeolites by 2-18 times. Experimental and theoretical analyses reveal that an elevated synthesis pressure and increased oxygen content in the system promote the formation of singlet oxygen species, thereby facilitating T-O-T (T═Si, Al, and P) bond restructuring and accelerating zeolite nucleation. This work offers a practical and efficient pathway for rapidly synthesizing zeolites to meet industrial demands while shedding light on the underlying mechanisms of zeolite crystallization.